Gray-winged Inca-Finch (Incaspiza ortizi)

Identification & Behavior: ~16.5 cm (6.4 in). The Gray-winged Inca-Finch is mostly gray with a brownish back. The bill is orange with black around the base. The legs are also orange. The tail is gray with white outer tail feathers. It forages in low stature scrub in the Marañon Drainage. It is similar to the Buff-bridled Inca-Finch but is distinguished by an overall gray plumage, a lack of buff bridles, larger size, and by ranging at lower elevations.

Status: Endemic. The Gray-winged Inca-Finch is uncommon in dry scrub in the central Marañon Drainage at elevations ranging between 1800-2300 m.

Name in Spanish: Fringilo-Inca de Ala Gris.

Sub-species: Gray-winged Inca-Finch (Incaspiza ortizi), J. T. Zimmer, 1952.

Meaning of Name: Incaspiza: After the Incas, the native peoples of Peru at the time of the Spanish conquista and Gr. spiza= finch. ortizi: In honor of Javier Ortíz de la Puente Denegri (1928-1952) Peruvian ornithologist.

See more of the Family Thraupidae